Cubs fall to the Braves in 10 innings

Written By BY GORDON WITTENMYER STAFF REPORTER Posted: 05/09/2014, 10:28pm

Chicago Cubs' Ryan Kalish (51) is tagged out by Atlanta Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons (19) while attempting to steal second base in the first inning of a baseball game on Friday, May 9, 2014, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

ATLANTA – Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman drove a first pitch from Wesley Wright up the middle for a run-scoring single in the bottom of the 10th inning Friday night to beat the Cubs 3-2 in the first game of a three-game series at Turner Field.

Jason Heyward, who scored from second on the play, led off the 10th with a walk. Wright appeared to pick off Heyward, who broke early for second, but he beat the throw from first baseman Anthony Rizzo for a stolen base.

The lefty Wright then walked right-handed hitting Justin Upton with first base open to face the left-handed Freeman.

It was the Cubs’ fifth loss in six games.

Cubs starter Jason Hammel delivered his seventh quality start in as many turns since signing with the Cubs but wound up with a second consecutive no-decision when Atlanta starter Julio Teheran throttled the Cubs’ hitters.

Hammel pitched seven innings for the fifth time and held the offensively struggling Braves to a walk and seven singles. The only runs he allowed came on three consecutive singles in the third by Freddie Freeman, Evan Gattis and Chris Johnson – with Gattis moving into scoring position on a wild pitch before Johnson’s hit.

Teheran allowed just one hit and two walks in his eight innings of work.

The hit was a home run by Mike Olt leading off the third inning – Olt’s third consecutive game with a home run. One of the walks off Teheran also belonged to Olt.

But Teheran, who recorded his major-league leading eighth quality start, was denied a victory when the Cubs rallied for a tying run off Braves closer Craig Kimbrel – Chris Coghlan leading off the ninth with a single, taking third on a grounder and scoring on Ryan Kalish’s one-out single to left.